5 things to remember from the FEI Seminar

Geneva from 10th to 12th of February 2017

The Seminar takes place every year and we want you to have an overview of what the FEI decided or is planning to change regarding the competitions.

Doris Knotter is part of the Vaulting Committee, she is Deputy Chair, along with John Eccles and Course Director as well. Her role was to lead the seminar regarding the agenda. If you missed it, this is what you must remember from what happened there:

1. NATION TEAMS FOR WEG 2018

A Nation Team Event will take place for the first time in 2018 during the FEI World Equestrian Games 2018 & Championships. The objective is to be aligned with other equestrian disciplines and get a medal decision every day of the competition. This new format will be already tested this season during some CVIOs.

2. [INDIVIDUAL FREESTYLE] NEW REPARTITION FOR THE ARTISTIC SCORE

The artistic score will be redefined following this repartition:

The structure will represent 35% of the total grade, instead of 50% in the past. The score of the choreography thus predominates, at 65%.

“Complexity of elements, sequences, transitions, positions and combinations of exercises” has been added to C5. The creativity of the vaulter is encouraged, so…have fun and be creative!

3. [INDIVIDUAL TECHNICAL TEST] CREATE MOMENTS!

There is a completely new way of judging the artistic score, although the focus remains on the way to get in and out of the Technical Exercises:

The Technical Test is divided into six sequences, the first from the mount to the first Technical Exercises, 4 sequences from one Technical Exercise to the next one and finally from the last Technical Exercise to the dismount.

Each sequence gets a score depending on its complexity and its creativity. And those scores will be averaged for scoring the selection of elements. There will be two more scores: unity of composition for fluidity and harmony, and music Interpretation.

Structure – Selection of Elements/Sequences/Transitions (T1): 40%

Choreography – Unity of composition (fluidity and harmony) (T2): 30%

Choreography – Music interpretation (T3): 30%

4. [INDIVIDUAL TECHNICAL TEST] NEW EXERCISES FOR THE SEASON 2019

Two new technical exercises will be discussed at the next international seminar in February 2018 in Denmark and published thereafter: Shoot Up (Jump Force) and the Push Up (Strength) are going to be replaced.

The current proposals are:

1. Mount to lying on the back (with straight legs) or to Shoulderstand or to Sideways Stand In

2. Handstand sideways (with one hand in the handle and other on the horse) or Lever on the grips (leaning onto one elbow)

Other proposals can still be made to the Committee, don’t be shy!

For 2021 the roll from the croup to the neck would be replaced: one idea for this is a cartwheel across the horse (instead of making it along the horse, as it has been in the past). But till then, here is what you need to know about it: both hands must take hold on of the handles immediately after the legs are in front of the surcingle in full contact with the shoulder of the horse and the upper body is nearly in an upright position.

5. [HORSE SCORE] WHAT A PACE!

Till now, the judge in charge of scoring the horse needed to score the pace (A1), the impulsion (A2), and the submission (A3) according to the lowest of 3 main criteria. In 2017, they are going to give a score representing the average of those 3 criteria. For the Pace (A1), the average is made of Rhythm, Suppleness and Contact for instance.

Photo Credits: Ingo Waechter Images